Tranmere Rovers take on Huddersfield in League One tonight (From Wirral Globe)

Tranmere Rovers take on Huddersfield in League One tonight

2:17pm Tuesday 1st December 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

TRANMERE Rovers continue their League One campaign tonight with an away game against Huddersfield Town.

Currently languishing at the foot of the table, Rovers will be hoping to return from the Galpharm Stadium with much-needed points.

It will be the 42nd time the two clubs have met, with Rovers winning 19 games.

Looking ahead to tonight's fixture, club coach Wayne Allison said: "Huddersfield are flying. They're a good team, a good unit and they score an abundance of goals.

"We're under no illusions of what to expect and I think with the form we're in and the clean sheets we've amassed over the last few games, everybody's quite confident.

"We'll be put to the test and we're expecting that. But let's not forget that we can create chances and can go forward.

"I'm not saying we could beat any side, but on a good day we could certainly compete.

"We have to compete with a big ground and a nice pitch and there'll be a decent crowd there.

"But we won't be phased by that. We weren't phased by that at Norwich, so there's no reason why tonight should be any different.

"If we compete, first and foremost, and stay in the game as long as we can, who knows."

As well as their League One concerns, Rovers will be fighting for a place in the FA Cup third round when they face Aldershot in a second round replay next week.

At stake, if they beat Kevin Dillon's side at the Recreation Ground on Tuesday, December 8, is what promises to be an attractive third-round tie with Wolverhampton Wanderers. The fixture starts at 7.45pm.

Wayne Allison admits that the replay - which follows the clubs' 0-0 draw at Prenton Park on Saturday afternoon in front of 3,742 spectators - is not going to be easy.

Hoping that the club will progress to the third round, he said: "It's a good draw. But first and foremost we have to get past Aldershot, which is not going to be easy.

"It's alright talking about ifs, buts and maybes but we’ve got a job in hand. It’ll be quite difficult."

Allison, a former Rovers player, said that the team's attitude, mentality and willingness to defend had led to much-improved performances over the last few weeks.

"They are a unit that has good understanding among themselves and so they can see the light at the end of the tunnel. They seem like they enjoy defending.

"Other teams have had shots, but we've been restricted to long-range efforts. We’ve got a shape about us."

Wayne, who returned to Prenton Park as coach three months ago, said: "It's great to be back outside and coaching. It's good fun.

"Working with Les and assistant manager Shaun Garnett is good is going well. We seem to be working game by game, seeing how things turn out.

"The boys are working ever so hard and as long as they can see where we’re trying to get too and have the belief that they can do anything, success is down to them.

"When a club's down in the bottom there's a lot of negativity about. So you’ve got to try to abolish that and move forward the best you can.

"Football is psychological. As well as having skill and ability you’ve got to believe that you can actually achieve anything you want to."

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)